My mind swirled at the possibilities. A billion people sharing my memories all while sensing and feeling what I experienced. What was a person supposed to do during a moment like this?

“Say something,” Jasper said.

The number of people surrounding us gradually increased.

“Azerail,” Jasper said as he leaned in close. “Wave at them and say hello.”

I looked at the gathering and then closed my eyes. People shouted my name, and footsteps clunked on the floor. My heart began to beat more rapidly the louder it got.

The logical part of me knew I needed to calm down but they were so loud. For some reason, I focused on the stomping feet. People's voices combined into a murmur. Then I heard someone moan. They were probably angry that their meal had been interrupted.

Their moan reminded me of the shamblers. Just yesterday I'd been surrounded by people and didn't flinch. In fact, I'd fought against the crowd. They were similar situations so I imagined the people around me were all in DO.

As I opened my eyes I waved. “Hi everyone!”

I attempted to release my control undead ability but felt nothing. Imagining I was in the game made me feel better.

The writhing mass of people around us kept their distance which I appreciated. I continued greeting them and then had an idea.

Kevin eyed me and the crowd around us as he munched on several burgers.

I smiled and then pointed at him and pumped a fist in the air. “Kev-in! Kev-in! Kev-in!” I chanted.

People in the front of the crowd pointed at the boxes in front of us. They then saw what I was doing and began to mimic my words and movements. It eventually caught on and soon everyone was cheering Kevin on.

Jasper caught my eye and gave me a nod while golf clapping.

It was the first time I’d ever guided a group in the direction I wanted them to go. Other than shamblers that is.

Kevin shrugged and doubled down on his feast.

I hoped he would forgive me for shifting the attention to him.

He kept up the pace for a good ten minutes but slowed down after he’d gotten about halfway done. Then he stopped and whispered to me. “I have to use the bathroom.”

Everyone quieted down.

“To the bathroom!” I yelled and got up.

Kevin leaned back his eyes wide.

I extended a hand. He took it and I helped him up.

“Can you hold our table, Jasper?” I asked.

He nodded and I led Kevin to the edge of the circle.

“We’re going to take a quick restroom break and then more of Sal’s burgers!” I shouted.

The people in front of me made room and we pushed forward. The bathroom wasn’t very far off. A lot of the crowd followed us but kept their distance once we made it to our destination.

When I led Kevin inside he stood there for a moment staring at me.

“What?” I asked.

There were several people in there already. Some were in the center of the room which was the sitting area. I was just happy to be away from the crowd.

The floors were decorated with beautiful tiles. Individual green, blue, and yellow slates formed big flowers on the walls. Multicolored doors surrounded the massive room. Between every five or so doors were a few sinks to wash your hands. There were virtual signs in front of each opening indicating the stall's current status.

When Kevin didn’t respond I said, “Pick a door. I’ll wait over there.” and pointed at an open chair.

I didn’t need to use the restroom since I hadn’t eaten much.

Kevin’s stomach made a grumbling noise which pulled him out of whatever stupor he’d been in. He rushed to a door and stared at it before opening it.

That kid was so strange.

As I found a seat and settled down I pinched my fingers together. Zix, how many people were out there for me?

The fabric on the chairs tickled my fingers as I ran them across its surface.

There were approximately fifty-seven people surrounding the three of you. Zix said.

I can control more shamblers than that. I thought. Which reminded me to open my DO skills list and see if anything had changed.

My control undead skill was missing. There was another skill where it used to be in the list. It was called Undead Domination.

Skills can evolve too?

The description read:

Undead Domination: The undead were yours, they always were. Step forward and claim them.

Requirements:

Int 200

Con 200

My mouth dropped. How the hell was I going to get my concentration to two hundred? That's what max rank was so my intelligence was already there.

I checked my stats.

Strength: 103(+30)

Physique: 111(+30)

Intelligence: 210(+10)

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

Concentration: 145(+20)

Agility: 95(+20)

Perception: 93(+10)

Presence: 107(+10)

The number on the left indicated my total with the modified bonuses from Kumo’s Fang. I'd pushed most of my extra experience into intelligence to max it out and distributed the rest pretty evenly after that.

Concentration was the exception because through experimentation I found it increased the number of undead I could control.

Even with the bonuses my sword provided, I would have a hard time getting my con to two hundred any time soon. My previous tactics probably wouldn't work either since Inethiel would stick out like a sore thumb in the shambler hordes. Especially with them kneeling around her.

The update had promised bonus experience for shamblers so I checked my reserves.

Holy bits.

I jerked, nearly falling from my chair. I’d never seen so much experience sitting there doing nothing before. Within seconds I’d spent it all on my Con bringing it up thirty points.

If I had specialized in concentration that much experience would have topped it off. However, since it wasn’t, it took twice as much to raise.

“Hey,” Kevin said causing me to screech. “Whoa!”

My fingers slipped and the menus I was examining faded. “Don’t do that!”

“Do what, walk up and say hi?” he asked.

I squinted. “You scared me.”

“What were you looking at?” he asked and plopped down next to me. “You looked pretty intense.”

Sharing my character's stats with him wouldn’t cause any harm so I placed my hand on his shoulder and opened my interface.

“Character stats?” he asked.

I sighed. “Yeah, they aren’t high enough to use my upgraded skill so I’m gonna have to do some grinding.”

His face twisted in disgust.

“Yeah, I hate it too,” I said.

Kevin stared ahead his eyes wide open. “Going to the bathroom was so weird. It all just came out like a waterfa—”

“Do not finish that sentence!” I yelled.

He laughed. “It was so weird! Yet I’m still hungry.”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

“Sorry, it’s all so new to me,” he said.

“You don’t need to mention the gross parts,” I said.

He glanced at his shoulder where I was touching him. “It’s not all bad.”

My face warmed up and I retracted my hand.

Did he just flirt with me?

“Time to eat the rest of those burgers,” he said as he stood.

I swallowed.

“You coming?” he asked.

Was he messing with me? “Yeah.”

He backed up a step, his eyes never leaving mine, and waited.

I got up and he gestured toward the door. “Ladies first.”

“Don’t ever call me a lady again,” I said and gave his arm a good push.

The same grin he’d had on his face while eating the burgers earlier appeared on his face. “Yes, mam.”

I rolled my eyes and rushed outside.

He easily kept up but gave me space.

Most of the crowd from earlier had dispersed. Jasper and James were still at the table and a few people were standing next to them having a discussion.

“Hey,” I said as we approached.

A young girl rushed up to me. “Hi, Azerail!”

I pinched my fingers together, her name was Kiley Grant. She was a DO gamer and by the look of it, she’d been playing since release. “Hello.”

“I swapped sides because of you!” she said.

That was encouraging. “Really?” I asked.

She nodded.

“Well, maybe I’ll see you out there,” I said.

“How do I make zombies listen to me like you?” she asked.

I smiled. “That’s a secret. I can’t go around telling everyone how it works.”

“Awww,” she said, her whole body sagging.

I leaned in close and whispered, “Don’t do what the player guides say.”

She nodded and a smile spread across her lips.

The effects of multiple people deciding to play shamblers ambush style in the hordes could have long-lasting consequences. I wasn’t sure if it would be a good or a bad thing. If things went too bad I could always just play around with my pet while everything settled down. Then again I wasn’t sure if I was going to join Jasper and Fen Li’s group or not. They would have expectations and stories they wanted to act out. Whatever I did I would have to grind to get what I wanted.

“You can add me if you want,” I suggested.

Seconds later a notification popped up and I accepted her friend request.

Zix, how many people have tried to add me as a friend? I asked.

There was a small pause and then he replied, Around two thousand today.

Do you ever get tired of filtering my notifications? I asked.

The little fox blinked into existence next to me. No, Ms. Azerail it is what I was created to do.

Manage my inbox?

Zix spun in a circle nipping at his tail. No, I am here to help.

Did anyone try to send me a message since the video went up last night?

He sat next to my feet and leaned again my shin. Quite a few.

Anyone important?

His little head shook. No one noteworthy, based on your interests that is. Jasper and Fen Li attempted to make contact but I intercepted their initial requests. It was their idea to set up the meeting as they did.

At least Zix hadn’t helped them ambush me. Thank you, Zix.

Always a pleasure to serve, he said and disappeared.

It took a second for the feeling to fade where his head had leaned against me.

Kiley must have noticed that I was distracted because she had left.

Kevin was back to eating his burgers and there were a few people watching him. I joined them at the table.

The two people who were chatting with Jasper dispersed as I sat down. I wasn’t offended in fact I was happy they were gone. It gave me a moment to start on my food again.

“Where does it all go?” Jasper asked.

Kevin glanced between the two of us. “You don’t want to know.”

“No bathroom talk!” I said.

Jasper smiled. “Have you given any more thought about our offer?”

“Zix, have I gotten those Qverse invites yet?” I asked out loud.

Not yet, Ms. Azerail, he said

Jasper leaned back. “Oops, forgot about that.”

The deal between us wasn’t hinging on the invites. What I really wanted to do was talk to my parents about it. I gamed a lot already and I still had a lot to learn about streaming before I jumped into it.

Using the Brain Trust app was always an option but unless I used it every time I streamed I wouldn’t remember how everything worked when I closed it. Some people kept BT running which I couldn’t do. It was a way of sharing information and acted as a second brain. It was an experimental knowledge-sharing program. I spent a lot of time in it when it first came out. There wasn’t a way to copy the information from the app directly to your brain so I always felt as if I might miss something when I shut it down.

It was better to just not use it at all and train my brain the old-fashioned way. Through AI.

“I got a guy working on it,” Jasper said.

I nodded and checked on Kevin. He was getting pretty close to finishing.

James was enamored by Kevin’s eating. It was funny hearing him use little bits of commentary. He was being useful by keeping the boxes organized and urging Kevin on every few minutes.

People began gathering around us again.

As I finished my food a stabbing pain wracked my temple.

My mom Jennifer was calling and there was an urgent symbol next to it.

Her superior appeared as I accepted the connection. “Az, you need to get home now.”

“As soon as Kevin—”

“No, now.”

“But—”

“Now!”

***